Stepping Out

The Community School of Music and Arts is scheduled to host the fourth annual Silicon Valley African Film Festival Friday through Sunday on its Mountain View campus.

The annual showcase will screen a mix of feature, short and animated films from Africa’s seasoned and emerging first-voice filmmakers. Themed “Africa Through African Lens,” the mission of the festival is to promote an understanding and appreciation of Africa and Africans through moving images.

Presented by Oriki Theater in Mountain View, in partnership with the African Diaspora Network and CSMA, the festival features a lineup of more than 30 films from 15 African countries. This year’s Centerpiece film is the controversial South African movie “Of Good Report” in its U.S. premiere. “Report” was recently banned (and then unbanned) in South Africa and has been submitted for Oscar consideration.

The opening film, “Grigris,” is the 2013 Cannes Vulcan Award-winner from Chad. Other selections include the U.S. premiere of “Children’s Republic” (starring Danny Glover) from Guinea-Bissau, “Le President” from Cameroon and the world premiere of “Dreamwalker” from Nigeria.